Social relations in crowds: Recognition, validation and solidarity

Abstract

Social identity research on crowds demonstrates how cognitive self‐definition as a crowd member results in conformity to identity‐relevant norms. Rather less research has addressed the social‐relational changes within a crowd and how these impact collective experience positively. The present study investigates these processes at a month‐long mass gathering in India. Analysis of 37 interviews with participants attending the annual Magh Mela pilgrimage evidences the concept of shared identity as underpinning their understanding of this mass gathering. Moreover, a theoretically derived thematic analysis of these interviews shows the value of the analytic concepts of recognition, validation, and solidarity in illuminating the ways in which social relations in the crowd were experienced and contributed to the experience of the event. Through exploring the multi‐dimensional nature of relational connectedness in crowds we contribute to an understanding of crowd experience and group processes.

Shared social identification in mass gatherings lowers health risk perceptions via lowered disgust

“…Future research should identify additional mechanisms that underpin the relationship between sharing a social identity and health risk perceptions and behaviours. Given that crowd members who share a social identity expect and receive social support from one another (Alnabulsi & Drury, 2014;Drury, Cocking, & Reicher, 2009b;Hopkins et al, 2019;Khan et al, 2015;Pandey et al, 2014), and that this can enhance well-being (Khan et al, 2015), it is not unreasonable to assume that this relational transformation may lessen concerns about the negative consequences of health risk behaviours. For example, festival-goers may underestimate the risk of using recreational drugs as they feel safe and supported by other crowd members and expect to receive their support if something goes astray.…”

“…Likewise, people experiencing a shared social identity who are feeling unwell (and may be infected by a virus) may avoid seeking medical help because they expect and receive support from other crowd members (Hopkins & Reicher, ). Pilgrims at the Magh Mela in fact reported helping other sick pilgrims and expressed that such support was normative and thereby reciprocated; they also described becoming more tolerant of other pilgrims’ asocial actions (e.g., being pushed) and expressed that they expected practical help (e.g., resource sharing) from other pilgrims to overcome hardships at the event (Hopkins et al , ; Pandey, Stevenson, Shankar, Hopkins, & Reicher, ).…”

Crowded and popular: The two sides of the coin affecting theme-park experience, satisfaction, and loyalty

“…Perceived severity of crowding also correlates significantly with the level of satisfaction derived from an activity ( Huang, Huang, & Wyer, 2018 ; Moharana & Pradhan, 2019 ; Shelby & Heberlein, 1986 ; Sim, Koo, Koo, & Lee, 2018 ; Thomas & Saenger, 2018). Recent studies have addressed the social-relational changes within a crowd and their impact on the collective experience ( Hopkins et al, 2019 ) and people's collective motion and pedestrian dynamics ( Feliciani, Murakami, & Nishinari, 2018 ).…”

Mass Gatherings, Health, and Well‐Being: From Risk Mitigation to Health Promotion

“…Take the way strangers greet each other. At the Hindu Magh Mela pilgrims show respect to each other through putting their hands together and bowing their head (Hopkins et al., 2019). At the Bonnaroo musical festival in Tennessee, participants routinely greet strangers with “high‐fives” (Locker, 2016).…”